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5 Great Things About Growing Old

Anne-Marie O’Neill

Five experts share their wisdom about the many delightful surprises that await you in your golden years.

You’ll Be Happier

As it turns out, most grumpy old people used to be grumpy young people. Aging doesn’t turn a cheerful person into a grouch. To the contrary, research has shown that, as we age, we become more emotionally stable and content. In early adulthood, there are a lot of what-ifs: Am I going to find a soul mate? Have a child? Build a rewarding career? Then you spend the next few decades striving to achieve those goals. But when you’re older, the what-ifs have been resolved. So you are less stressed and can—finally—relax.

Laura Carstensen, 57, is a psychologist and the director of the Stanford Center on Longevity, in Stanford, California.

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Daily Finds

All honeys are not created equal—and if you've only tried the kind that comes in a bear-shaped bottle, it's time to expand your horizons. Like wine, a honey's flavor can vary dramatically depending on when it was made, the region it came from, and the type of flowers and trees that fed its hive. These seven standouts range from the light and floral to the dark and smoky—and are all worth buzzing about.